§ SIR R. TEMPLEI beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether it has ever been laid down by the Education Department that, according to their interpretation of "The Education Act, 1891," the accommodation of an infants' school in which no fees whatever are charged is not to be considered available as supplying public school accommodation within the meaning of that Act, on the ground that the boys' and girls' schools connected therewith continue to charge a fee?
§ MR. ACLANDThe Education Department have not laid down the doctrine that free places in an infant department of a school which the Education Department recognises as a separate school within the meaning of Section 3 of the Elementary Education Act of 1870 are not to be reckoned as such in proceedings under Section 5 of the Act of 1891, because other Departments connected therewith are fee-charging. On the other hand, parents obtaining, after a representation to the Department, free places for their infant children, no doubt expect free places throughout the school-life of these children. It is obvious that many difficulties may appear in connection with this matter in the near future. They will receive the careful attention of the Department as they arise.